Dozens of Nigerians remain stranded outside the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa. They say the available evacuation flights cannot accommodate everyone seeking to return home.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA — Nigerians stranded in Pretoria, South Africa, have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently increase evacuation flights, saying many citizens, including children, have remained outside the Nigerian Embassy for weeks while awaiting assistance. According to the affected individuals, the current evacuation arrangements have failed to meet the growing demand for repatriation.
The stranded Nigerians said they have continued to wait for updates from relevant authorities but only a limited number of flights have been made available. According to their accounts, the available seats cannot accommodate everyone who has registered to return to Nigeria, leaving many uncertain about when they will be able to travel home.
Some of the affected citizens urged the Federal Government to intervene without delay by providing additional evacuation flights. They said prolonged waiting has created financial and emotional hardship for many families, especially those with young children. The stranded Nigerians also appealed to the Nigerian Embassy and other relevant authorities to speed up the evacuation process and provide regular updates on the arrangements.
The Federal Government has previously organised evacuation exercises for Nigerians facing emergencies in different parts of the world through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian diplomatic missions. Such operations are typically coordinated when citizens require urgent assistance due to conflict, immigration issues or other humanitarian concerns. At the time of this report, there was no official statement explaining whether more evacuation flights would be scheduled for those currently waiting in Pretoria.
The development means many Nigerians in South Africa may continue to face uncertainty until additional evacuation arrangements are announced. Attention will now focus on the response of the Federal Government and the Nigerian Embassy as affected citizens await further information on plans to return them safely to Nigeria.
